Salvage business passes to another generation

Frankie has been in the junkyard business since he was 21, first paying $10 a month rent in the building that now houses the Salem Lutheran Church. He loved the work from the very start. Today, he’s 81, and Schwartz is passing the business, Schwartz Auto Sales and Salvage, off to his son Jamie, who’s buying his dad out “lock, stock and barrel,” along with Jamie’s sister, Cora Dotson. Cora will be Jamie’s business partner.

Jamie has elaborate plans to electronically itemize every part in the junkyard, turning Schwartz’ Auto Sales into a state-of-the-art facility in salvage and scrap – the very top of the industry.

“There’ll be computers all over the place,” says Frankie. “I don’t know how to turn one on, and I don’t want to know.”

Jamie feels strongly that technology is the way of the future. The business also has an employee selling items from the yard on eBay all day long.

“It’s the only way it can go into the next generation,” says Jamie.

When asked what led to his father’s success, the younger Schwartz cites one word immediately. “He’s shrewd,” says Jamie. “But you can’t attribute one single factor to his success over 60 years. It’s a multitude. Being extremely eager to work is one of them. He’s not lazy. He’s 81 years old. But I don’t know anybody who can work like him.”

Jamie will be taking on a double load. Picking up the salvage business – which he’s already running the lion’s share of – along with Auto Connection, the auto repair shop he also owns in town.

“He can handle it,” says Frankie. “He’s got enough of his old man… I’ve watched him work. He can do it.”

Says Jamie: “He’s taught me a lot about business. We’ve both come by it naturally. But the experience that he’s got and bestowed upon me is invaluable.”